Eastern Mennonite University and Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community enter strategic partnership

Agreement outlines retirement community’s acquisition of Park Woods forest and EMU baseball field

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Eastern Mennonite University and Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community announced Monday, May 11, a strategic partnership that strengthens and expands their long-standing relationship, allowing VMRC to plan for future growth while providing EMU with the resources to advance its educational mission.

As part of the agreement, VMRC will acquire Park Woods, a 13-acre oak-hickory forest it shares with EMU, with a commitment to continue stewarding and preserving the urban green space as an enduring asset to the community. The partnership also includes a five-year plan for VMRC’s potential expansion through its purchase of the land upon which the EMU baseball field now sits, along with the construction of a new ballfield at another location on the university campus.

The partnership, which has been approved by each institution’s board of trustees, supports their long-term strategic goals by strengthening financial sustainability, expanding opportunities for intergenerational engagement, and reinforcing their shared presence as mission-driven organizations serving the public good.

Leaders of the neighboring Harrisonburg institutions describe the partnership as a “win-win,” supporting both VMRC’s capacity to serve current and future residents and EMU’s ability to invest in academic excellence, student access, and community engagement.

“This partnership honors our history while giving us the flexibility and capacity to plan for long-term vitality,” VMRC President and CEO Jake Bell said. “It allows us to continue providing high-quality care and community while strengthening our connection to EMU and the region we both serve.”

“This partnership reflects who we are and how we want to lead,” EMU Interim President Shannon W. Dycus said. “It builds on decades of relationship, shared geography, and common values, while positioning both institutions to respond thoughtfully and responsibly to the future.”

EMU and VMRC share a foundation of Anabaptist-Mennonite values and a commitment to community, service, and care for the whole person. The two institutions have long been neighbors and partners, and this agreement positions them to collaborate more intentionally on academic, cultural, and community initiatives that benefit students, residents, employees, and the greater Harrisonburg region.

Media Contact:
Ryan Cornell
Senior Writer & Communications Manager
ryan.cornell@emu.edu
(540) 432-4059